Factional fights mark the BCL anniversary

Activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the pro-Awami League student body, were locked in factional clashes at different places while celebrating its 70th founding anniversary yesterday.

At least 11 people were reportedly injured in the clashes at Chittagong University, Nuria Secondary School in Barisal and Murari Chand (MC) College in Sylhet.

Two groups of BCL activists of Chittagong University unit clashed around 1:00pm when the supporters of two groups -- Sixty Nine and Varsity Xpress -- were locked in an altercation over standing in the front row of a procession to mark the founding anniversary, said police.

Abdullah Al Masum, additional superintendent of police, said the two groups, loyal to Chittagong City Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin, equipped with sharp weapons attacked each other, leaving two activists injured, he added.

They are Sayed Ahmed, a third-year student of zoology, and Nazmul Samir, a fourth-year student of mathematics, reports our CU correspondent. 

Sayed was admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital and Nazmul took primary treatment from CU Medical Centre.

Abdullah said police charged batons on the clashing groups to bring the situation under control. CU acting proctor Litan Mitra said additional policemen had been deployed on the campus to avoid any untoward incident. 

At least 20 rooms of Suhrawardy Hall and some rooms of Shahjalal Hall were vandalised during the clash, he added.

Mansur Alam, former senior vice-president of BCL CU unit, who leads the Sixty Nine Group, alleged that men of former deputy office secretary of the unit Mizanur Rahman Bipul carried out the attack on his supporters to foil the anniversary programme.

Bipul, also the leader of Varsity Xpress Group, refuted the allegation, saying that the supporters of Mansur attacked his men first without any provocation.

Police later detained BCL man Arifur Rahman, a third-year student of philosophy, who is an activist of Varsity Xpress Group, said Additional SP Abdullah.

Meanwhile, at a programme organised by BCL Chittagong city unit yesterday, AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif urged the BCL leaders and activists to be disciplined.

"A disciplined organisation can lead the nation in the right way,” he said, referring to the glorious past of the BCL.

In another incident, at least four BCL activists were injured in a clash over taking control of MC College to celebrate the anniversary programme, reports our correspondent there. 

Police and BCL sources said a group of the college BCL, follower of Hiron Mahmud Nipu, former president of BCL Sylhet district unit, organised a programme at the college to celebrate the anniversary. 

Their rival group, follower of Rayhan Chowdhury, former secretary of Sylhet district unit BCL, also planned to enter the campus for celebrating the anniversary. When they were trying to enter the college, the groups clashed.

Akhter Hossain, officer-in-charge of Shahporan Police Station, said additional law enforcers had been deployed on the college campus to fend off further clashes.

In another development, a group of BCL activists attacked their rivals while they were celebrating the anniversary at Nuria Secondary School in Barisal city on Wednesday night, adds our Barisal correspondent.

Barisal City unit BCL President Md Jasimuddin, who organised the programme, alleged that supporters of his rival group, led by Raiz Ahmad Manna, attacked his men and damaged cake, four motorcycles and chairs.

Five BCL activists, including Jasimuddin, were hurt in the attack.

Contacted, Raiz denied his involvement in the attack.

Awlad Hossain, officer-in-charge of Barisal Kotwali Model Police Station, said on information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.